Piers Morgan has accused foreign secretary Dominic Raab of being “extraordinarily arrogant” following a heated exchange on ITV about hotel quarantine.
The broadcaster’s Twitter attack came after Mr Raab clashed with Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway – who had asked the minister whether the government was implementing the plan effectively.
“Can you let me answer the question?” said Mr Raab, after the host very briefly interrupted him to point out she was talking about enforcement of quarantine in the UK.
Ms Garraway fired back: “I’ve got to clarify – otherwise you’re not going to have a chance to answer the question.”
A visibly irritated Mr Raab said: “Why don’t you pause and let me explain it? I think people get fed up with the media not allowing us to give honest answers.”
Mr Morgan – taking a break from hosting duties – said he was appalled by the minister’s behaviour on the programme. “Dominic Raab is extraordinarily arrogant for someone with so little to be arrogant about,” he tweeted.
The foreign secretary told GMB the government had taken a “proportionate approach” to enforcing 10-day hotel quarantine in England, as Ms Garraway pointed to reports that airports were struggling to get enough border staff to do appropriate checks.
The interviewer also pointed to reports some hotel staff had been spotted not wearing their masks properly. “Who is checking that quarantining is actually happening?” she asked.
Mr Raab accused Ms Garraway of being “rather cynical” and “unfair” in her approach to questioning during the bad-tempered interview on Wednesday morning.
“The rules are very clear,” he said. “We are managing them as effectively as we can. There is increased Border Force resources. There is increased inspection spot-checks in relation to the hotel quarantine.”
